Simon Bridges ranks high on sexy list

Tauranga MP Simon Bridges is the second sexiest politician in New Zealand, according to an annual survey of more than 1000 Kiwis.

Prime Minister John Key was awarded the sexiest politician title after 39 per cent of voters picked him as their preferred candidate in the looks department in a survey by Durex.

Mr Bridges received 20 per cent of the votes and Botany MP Jami-Lee Ross picked up 10 per cent of the votes.

"There's not a lot of choice in Parliament," Mr Bridges told the Bay of Plenty Times from his Mount Maunganui home yesterday. "I'm reasonably young as far as it goes but I think this has a lot to do with my fairly high profile and being on TV so I don't think it has a lot to do with looks, but I'll take it. It's better to be the second sexiest politician than the least sexiest."

Even though he didn't make the top spot, Mr Bridges said he was pleased to rank behind the Prime Minister.

"Being number two to the Prime Minister is a safe place to be. We had similar results last year and I've text him in the past and he told me one day I might catch him."

And it looks like he might. Mr Bridges has increased his share of the votes from 13 per cent last year. However, both years don't compare to 2010 when he got 33 per cent of the vote.

The title of sexiest female politician for the year was awarded to Labour MP Jacinda Ardern (35 per cent) who slid ahead of National counterpart Nikki Kaye (26 per cent).

More than half of the 1076 New Zealanders surveyed (53 per cent) said a candidate's sex appeal was a factor when deciding where to place their vote.

Outside of Parliament, sports star Dan Carter and new wife Honor Dillon were ranked the hottest couple by a 50 per cent landslide with Ali Mau and partner Karleen Edmonds coming in second place (19 per cent).

TV ONE co-anchor Simon Dallow squeezed ahead of Breakfast host Corin Dann to take out sexiest male media personality by just one per cent.

TVNZ's Pippa Wetzell was voted the most favoured female personality (29 per cent) and edged in front of TV3's Australian correspondent Samantha Hayes, who received 23 per cent of votes.

The Durex Valentine's Day Survey polled 1076 New Zealanders between January 23 and February 7.